Article holder



1965 E. HOPKINS ETAL 3,226,075

ARTICLE HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1965 M m 0 E MM A Z LE IQ,m s V im & W 4

1965 E. HOPKINS ETAL 3,226,075

ARTICLE HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 @331 Filed Dec. 6, 1963 5 A 0 7. Q {J5 5 a fl/m r |.v Q M m n w 9 L. w w m Ii V 0 M 6 I I y 4, M 4 w, w W u Mu; 1 1 l| fi Q 1/ III! a Z J! \\\E) INVENTORS Evan Z Hopkins & Foss E.Hop/tins BY I A fiORNEYs Dec. 28, 1965 HOPKINS ETAL 3,226,075

ARTICLE HOLDER Filed Dec. 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Evan LHop/tins & Pass 5. Hopkins BY 15mm ORNEYS United States Patent M3,226,075 ARTICLE HOLDER Evan L. Hopkins and Ross E. Hopkins, both ofEmporia, Kans., assiguors to Hopkins Manufacturing Corp., Inc., Emporia,Kaus., a corporation of Kansas Filed Dec. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 328,575Claims. (Cl. 248-313) This invention relates to article holders. Moreparticularly, it pertains to a holder adapted to be secured to asupporting surface, which holder includes means for gripping the rim ofa container so that the container is suspended in an upright position.

Numerous brackets or holders have been provided heretofore for holdingcontainers such as cans or the like in a manner where they are easilyaccessible. Many such mechanisms are limited in their use and areapplicable only to a particular type of container due to thepeculiarities of the construction of the holder. Also many of suchholders or brackets are of complex structure and are expensive tomanufacture.

Particular problems have involved the provision of holding mechanismswhich are capable of firmly supporting articles such as rimmed cans,which enable such arti cles to be easily and rapidly engaged, and whichenable engaged articles to be easily released.

It is an object of this invention to provide a holder wherein acontainer may easily be attached thereto and removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a holder which isadapted to the supporting of different size containers or containershaving differently dimensioned rims.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a holderincluding means for providing a particularly positive and effectivearticle-holding action.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a holder which iscomprised of very few elements and which may be manufacturedeconomically.

These and other objects of the invention may be accomplished accordingto one embodiment of the invention wherein the holder comprises a basemember having a gripper arm slidably mounted thereon. The free end ofthe gripper arm is adapted to engage the rim of a container Spring meansare mounted on the base member to urge the gripper arm to a retractedposition relative to an edge of the base member. In this manner, whenthe rim of a container is positioned in the free end of the gripper arm,the spring causes the rim to be held firmly between the free end of thegripper arm and the edge of the base member.

The spring, in one embodiment, may be formed so that a portion thereofengages the wall of a container held by the holder to maintain thecontainer in an upright position.

The slide incorporated in the preferred embodiment of the article holdermay be mounted so as to be capable of limited pivotable movement about amidportion thereof so as to provide an enhanced article gripping actionand to facilitate engagement with differently dimensioned articles.

One preferred embodiment of the holder is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side, sectional view of the holder, showing the basemember of the holder secured to a supporting surface and a container,partially shown, in position for engagement with the holder;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the FIGURE 1 holder supporting a container;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view of a portion of the FIGURE 1holder, as viewed along the section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

3,226,875 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of theholder with a modified base member carried on an upright standard;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 with acontainer, partially shown, supported in the holder;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the holder with a modified basemember;

FIGURE 7 is a side, sectional view of an alternative form of the FIGURE1 holder; and

FIGURE 8 is a view of the FIGURE 8 holder supporting a rimmed can.

The holder, indicated generally at 10, includes a base member 12, whichis formed preferably of substantially rigid material and is adapted tobe supported on suitable supporting means. The base member 12 may beformed in many shapes depending on the desired use. The base member 12,as illustrated in FIGURE 1 is formed in a substantially L shape and isadapted to be secured to an upright surface. The base member 12 isprovided with an edge portion 14 adapted to engage the wall of acontainer 15, FIGURE 2, supported by the holder 10. In the illustratedembodiment the edge portion 14 is concave to conform to the cylindricalwall of the container. Obviously, however, the edge 14 may be straightor otherwise configured.

A gripper arm 16 is slidably mounted on the upper surface of thehorizontal portion of the base 12 as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2 and isprovided with a hook 18 adapted to engage the rim of the container 15.The hook 18 preferably is formed in an inverted U-shape. The particularshape of the hook 18, however, could be modified to adapt its use withcontainers of various shapes, if so desired.

Arm-mounting means such as rivet 20, or other suitable means, extendsthrough an elongated slot 22 in the arm 16 to hold the arm 16 on thebase member 12 for sliding movement relative thereto.

A spring 24 urges the arm 16 to a retracted position relative to theedge portion 14 of the base member 12, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The spring 24 is formed of a strip of resilient material and is securedsusbt-antially midway thereof to the base member 12 by the rivet 20. Oneportion of the spring 24 is formed in a substantially V-shape with thefree end 26 thereof extending through an opening 28 in the base member12 and engaging the gripper arm 16 through a hole 30, to urge thegripper arm to its retracted position. The tip of the spring may be bentover as indicated at 32 to secure the spring to the arm 16. The otherleg portion 34 of the spring 24 is inclined downwardly from the connection of the spring to the base member 12. Obviously, the springportion 34 might be replaced by an article-holding leg which was not anintegral portion of the spring 24, such as that subsequently describedin connection with FIGURE 7.

Preferably, the shank 20a of the rivet 20 is of such a length as toexceed the combined thicknesses of the base 12, arm 16, and spring 24. Awasher 2012 may be positioned on the shank 20a of the rivet 20 beneaththe upper rivet head 20c so as to securely position the rivet 20 on thebase 12 and cause the lower rivet head 20d to firmly hold the spring 24against the lower side of the base 12. Rivet head 200, in a conventionalfashion, may comprise a washer and a flattened shank end.

Washer 20b is disposed within the arm slot 22, with the lower side ofthe rivet head 20c being engaged by the washer 20b and spaced above theupper side of the arm 16 as shown in FIGURE 1. As will be appreciated,the maximum diameter of the rivet head 200 will exceed the width of theslot 22 so as to prevent the arm 16 from being withdrawn from the holderbase 12.

With the rivet head 200 being spaced somewhat from the arm 16, it willbe apparent that the arm 16 will be capable of limited movement betweenthe upper surface of the base 12 and the lower surface of the rivet head200. Because of this vertical freedom of the movement, the arm 16 ispivotable to a limited extent about the restraining rivet head 200.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the spring end 26 is provided with shoulders 26aand 26b adapted to engage the lower side of the arm 16 while thearm-retaining, spring tip 32 projects from between the shoulders 26a.and 26b through the arm hole 30.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the spring portion 24 is configured such that,with the arm 16 in its retracted position, the inner arm end 16a issupported by spring shoulders 26a and 26b somewhat above the uppersurface of the holder base 12. As a consequence of this arrangement, thearm 16 is held in a canted or pivoted position as shown.

It will now be understood that a container may be placed in the holderby bringing the rim of the container into engagement with the hook 18 ofthe gripper arm 16, as generally shown in FIGURE 1. The end of the hook18 is spaced from the base member 12 so as to permit the rim of thecontainer to be slid thereunder. The container may then be pivoted in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 to the position shown inFIGURE 2 where the container will be supported by the holder 10. Thespring 24 urges the gripper arm 16 to its retracted position so that thehook 18 pulls the rim of the receptacle 15 into abutting engagement withthe edge portion 14 of the base member 12 to suspend the containertherefrom. The inclined portion 34 of the spring 24 will engage the wallof the container and assist in holding the container firmly in anupright position in the holder 10.

The limited freedom of movement of the arm 16 between the base 12 andthe rivet head 2110 enables the hook 18 to readily accommodate to theheight of the can rim 15a.

As the arm 16 is moved outwardly on the base 12, the compressing of theV-shaped portion of spring 24 causes the spring end 32 to move throughan arc toward the can 15 so as to tend to raise the spring abutments 26aand 26b and thus bias the arm end 16a upwardly. This biasing of the arm16, which tends to cause it to rotate about rivet head 200 in aclockwise direction when the holder is viewed as shown in FIGURES 1 and2, tends to urge the arm hook 1S downwardly generally toward the base 12so as to provide an enhanced and more positive gripping of the containerrim 15a. It will thus be appreciated that the V-shaped portion of thespring 24 functions as a unique arm positioning means to both bias thearm 16 to its retracted position and to tend to cause the canting of thearm 16.

When it is desired to remove the container 15 from the holder 10, it isnecessary only to pivot the container, counterclockwise as viewed inFIGURE 2, and slide the rim of the container from beneath the hook 18.It will thus be understood that the holder 10 provides means forsupporting a container whereby the container may be easily and quicklysecured to and removed from the holder.

The particular shape of the base member 10 depends on the desired use ofthe holder and may take many shapes and forms. As illustrated in FIGURES4 and 5, the base member 12' is formed with a plurality of edge portions14, gripper arms 16 and springs 24. This form of base member 12 isadapted to be supported on an upright standard 36 for displayingcylindrical containers suspended therefrom. Each base member 12 isprovided with an opening 38 at its center which is adapted to slide ontoa square rod 40 of the standard 36. As illustrated, a plurality of basemembers 12' may be placed on the standard 36 in spaced relation.Cylindrical spacers 42 which may be slid onto the rod 40 maintain thebase members 12' in spaced relation. A handle 44 may be threadablysecured to the top of rod 40.

The base member 12" as disclosed in FIGURE 6 is formed in the shape ofan elongated angle bar and is adapted to be secured to a verticalsurface such as a wall or the like. The base member 12" is provided witha plurality of edge portions 14, gripper arms 16, and springs 24 forsupporting a plurality of containers.

Those skilled in the article-holder art will recognize that arrangementsother than that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be employed for obtainingthe sliding and canting arm movements heretofore described. For example,as shown in FIGURE 7, an arm 25, generally equivalent to the arm 16shown in FIGURE 1, may be urged to a retracted position by a coil spring23 extending between the inner end of the arm 25 and a frame portion.The arm 25 may be secured to a base member 11 by a rivet 19 in a mannercorresponding generally to the arm-securing arrangement shown inFIGURE 1. In this alternative embodiment, a can or article-supportingleg 33 may be provided which would correspond to the portion 34 of thespring 24 shown in FIGURE 1.

The canting movement of the arm 25 may be achieved by employing meanssuch as a cam surface 25a formed on the lower side of the arm 25. Camsurface 25a would slope generally downwardly in a direction toward thearm-restraining spring 23. Cam surface 25a would cooperate, in aconventional camming fashion, with an abutment 11a carried on the uppersurface of the base 11. Thus, as the arm 25 moved outwardly of the base11, the cooperation of cam surface 25a and the abutment 11a wouldpositively induce clockwise canting or pivoting movement of the arm 25about the restraining rivet 19 so that the arm 25 assumes thearticle-gripping position shown in FIGURE 8.

The article holders of this invention are characterized by severaladvantages which have been made apparent in describing its structuraldetails and mode of operation.

These holders may be fabricated from a relatively small number ofelements, each of which may be formed economically from relativelyinexpensive material, and easily assembled. The complete assembly islight in weight.

The holders are readily adapted to the supporting of diverse articlesand will readily accommodate to containers having differentlydimensioned rims. The holding action of the sliding arms is particularlypositive and reliable. The mode of manipulation of the holders is suchthat unskilled personnel will readily comprehend the simple movementsrequired to engage articles with them and effect their subsequentrelease.

A particular advantage resides in the relatively inconspicuous nature ofthe holder which facilitates its being utilized for display purposes. Anadditional and related major advantage involves the ease and rapiditywith which containers may be disengaged from the holders.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in certainembodiments, it is understood that changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. A holder comprising a base member having an edge portion adapted toengage a container, said base member adapted to be mounted on supportmeans, an arm slidably mounted on said base member, spring means securedto said base member, said spring means being connected to adapted to bemounted on support means, an arm slidably mounted on said base member,spring means secured to said base member, said spring means beingconnected to one end of said arm, a hook on the free end of said arm,said hook being urged by said spring means to grip the rim of acontainer against said edge portion for supporting a container insuspended relation therefrom, and means spaced from said edge inposition to engage the container and cooperate with said edge tomaintain the container in a substantially upright position.

3. A holder comprising a base member having an edge portion adapted toengage a container, an arm having hook means at one end adjacent saidedge for gripping the rim of a container against said edge, means formounting the arm on the base for pivotal movement of the hook meansforwardly toward and rearwardly away from said edge and for slidablemovement of the arm toward and away from said edge, actuating meansacting on the arm to cause the hook means to grip the rim of a containerfor resiliently urging the arm rearwardly away from said edge and forpivoting the hook means on the arm toward said edge upon slidingmovement of the arm forwardly toward said edge, and means spaced fromsaid edge in position to engage the container and cooperate with saidedge to maintain the container in a substantially upright position.

4. A holder device as defined in claim 3 wherein the actuating meansincludes leaf spring means extending between the base member and the endof the arm oppo- 6 site the hook for forcing said end to pivot away fromsaid base member upon movement of the arm forwardly toward said edge.

5. A holder device as defined in claim 3 wherein the actuating meansincludes spring means extending between the base member and the arm, andabutment means and a cooperating cam surface between the base member andthe arm, whereupon movement of the arm forwardly toward said edge, therelative movement between the abutment means and the cam surface forcesthe hook means toward said edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,991 11/1885Mathews 24-263 1,170,414 2/1916 Christensen 248313 1,589,521 6/1926England 297-179 2,316,290 4/1943 Schenbeck 248-3162 2,367,256 1/1945Atkins 248-210 2,503,123 4/1950 Morlan 248305 2,504,583 4/1950 Pachic248-313 2,554,120 5/1951 Pisano 248--238 2,598,479 5/1952 Wraith 248-2112,702,641 2/1955 Arthur 211 -71 2,711,813 6/1955 Larin 248-215 2,913,21111/1959 Francis 248-229 3,091,424 5/1963 Yegge 248-313 CLAUDE A. LE ROY,Primary Examiner.

1. A HOLDER COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING AN EDGE PORTION ADAPTED TOENGAGE A CONTAINER, SAID BASE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SUPPORTMEANS, AN ARM SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, SPRING MEANS SECUREDTO SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO ONE END OFSAID ARM, A HOOK ON THE FREE END OF SAID ARM, SAID HOOK BEING URGED BYSAID SPRING MEANS TO GRIP THE